In the Gospel this Sunday, the disciples cry out: “Lord, increase our faith.” This plea is as urgent today as it was two thousand years ago. Over the past two weeks, as pilgrims journeyed through the holy sites of Ireland, we too carried this same prayer in our hearts—asking the Lord to deepen, strengthen, and renew our faith.
Though times have changed, and we see churches in Ireland less filled than in years past, the spirit of faith remains alive. Many young people have turned away from religious practice, and the weight of history has challenged the Catholic Church in Ireland. Yet, what struck us most was this: the Irish people have not lost their faith in Christ. Their love for the land, their reverence for creation, and their devotion to family and community all reflect a faith that continues to breathe beneath the soil of their culture.
Jesus reminds us that faith, even as small as a mustard seed, has the power to grow into something great. A mustard seed is tiny, almost invisible in the palm of one’s hand. And yet, it quickly grows into a bush large enough to shelter the birds of the sky. Even more, it produces countless other seeds—scattering life and possibility far and wide. Our faith is the same. When nurtured with prayer, community, and trust in God, it multiplies beyond what we can imagine. We are called not only to grow in faith ourselves, but to plant seeds in others—especially in our children, who will carry the flame forward.
This week we begin the SEEL program (Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life) here at St. Simon. What a blessing that so many are choosing to walk more deeply with Christ through the guidance of St. Ignatius and his profound spiritual exercises. This is yet another way for us to live the Gospel plea: “Increase our faith,” as together we seek to recognize Christ’s presence in the ordinary rhythm of daily life.
Looking ahead, I warmly invite you to join us for our Annual Parish Retreat, October 24-25, as we continue celebrating our 70th year as a parish family. What a milestone this is—seven decades of worship, community, and service in this place we call home. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us—parishioners whose sacrifices built this parish and whose mustard seeds of faith made it flourish. Now it is our turn to carry that legacy forward.
We are blessed to welcome Sarah Hart, whose gift of music and prayer has touched hearts across the world. Her presence among us will surely help us draw closer to Christ and one another. This retreat is also an opportunity to extend an invitation—to bring a friend, a family member, or a neighbor—so that together we can plant new seeds of faith and let them grow. In this way, we not only celebrate our past but actively invest in the future of our parish. You can register for the retreat HERE. Learn more about Sarah Hart here.
It is good to be home again here at St. Simon Parish. I missed this community deeply. Each day of the pilgrimage, we lifted this parish in prayer—asking the Lord to bless our families, our ministries, and the year ahead. We prayed in a special way for our youngest parishioners, that they may find joy, hope, and strength in their faith, and that this community may continue to be a place where their mustard seed of faith can take root and flourish.
I would like to thank Kalena Moreira, our Youth Minister, for her dedication to our youth ministry program and to the youth who helped host the Pancake Breakfast last Sunday (I heard it was popular and the pancakes delicious!). I’d also like to thank Michelle Nealon and the Green Team for hosting the “Gospel of Food” class with guest speakers on exploring our responsibility to care for the hungry, reduce food waste, and steward creation through thoughtful choices. The sessions were recorded and will be available soon for you to view so you can learn more.
I am so very grateful to Fr. Thanh for his generous pastoral care while I was away, and to Fr. Dat, who continues to hold us all in prayer while on pilgrimage in Lourdes. A special word of thanks as well to our dedicated staff—Clare, Madelyn, Kalena, Kerby, Ana B, Ana P, Teresa, Sr. Gloria, Victor, and Baldy—for keeping everything running so smoothly during our time of travel. Your faithfulness and quiet service ensured that the life of our parish continued to flourish.
I’d like to share with you the words of the farewell poem I shared with the pilgrims at journey’s end:
Homeward Blessing
Pilgrims of sacred roads,
you have knelt in the quiet light of Knock,
where Mary’s silent presence
promised the nearness of God.
You have walked the green hush of Glendalough,
heard the glens breathe ancient prayer,
and stood amid the remembering stones
of abbeys—Jerpoint, Ballintubber, Kylemore—
where centuries of faith still echo.
You traced childhood paths in Bray,
and wandered Dublin’s storied streets,
where the Book of Kells and the long library
guard the music of the Word.
Now the journey bends toward home.
Carry these places in your hearts:
their winds, their prayers, their wild grace.
Traditional Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
God bless,
Fr. Brendan